Teeth whitening is the most frequently requested dental procedure at Tempe Family Dental. It provides a relatively simple and impressive way to improve one’s appearance. Our teeth stain for a variety of reasons. This includes; drinks (coffee, teas, whine and foods), smoking, aging and genetics. The great news is whitening products have greatly improved and we now have a variety of options to treat your smile.

There are at-home and in-office whitening products available, but all utilize the same fundamental chemistry: hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen radicals which destroy stain molecules in the teeth.

There are three options at Tempe Family Dental to whiten your teeth. The first and most common is the at-home method. It significantly lowers the cost and is very effective. We have two at-home methods. First, custom made trays. We make molds of your teeth and custom trays that fit snuggly around your teeth. We have made custom whitening trays for at-home use for many years. This still remains the method of choice. Second, is prefilled, disposable trays called, Opalescence Go. This option exists for those patients that do not want to have impressions or mold made of their teeth. No goopy impressions are required and we have found great results with this method.

The third option is our in-office method. In-office whitening is a very popular option. This option is a great choice for those that can not be diligent about wearing their trays for 1 hour a day for 2 weeks. It is also a great choice for those that need/want immediate whitening for a special occasion. In-office whitening, Zoom whitening or Kor whitening take about 1.5 hours and immediate results can be seen.

The whitening products used today often contain reduced sensitivity formulations and a balanced pH to increase patient comfort. Research shows that these additives do not completely eliminate sensitivity, but are very helpful. We also have other methods to help reduce sensitivity.

With good communication between the dentist and the patient regarding these treatment innovations, we have achieved marked esthetic improvements. At Tempe Family Dental, we will work together to achieve the best results!